Congress Quietly Passes Measure
Aimed at Reducing Internet 'Spam'

Congress is moving closer to regulating junk e-mail, but Internet activists complain that the current plan could actually end up encouraging more "spam."

The Senate quietly added an antispam measure to the Consumer Anti-Slamming Act before passing the bill late Tuesday. Similar legislation is being considered by the House. The Senate bill's main goal is to stem the tide of "slamming," in which telephone companies switch customers' long-distance provider without their permission. The antispam measure,...